Zero breech grenade-launching system

ABSTRACT

A grenade-launching pod including a housing supporting a matrix of spigots aimed to cover a sector of approximately 20*. Each spigot includes a hollow pipe containing a slidable firing pin biased rearwardly by a coil spring. A matrix of solenoids is secured to the inside of the housing, each one aligned with a respective spigot and having its plunger in contact with the firing pin of the associated spigot. A propellant cartridge is removably held in a slot in the end of each spigot and a grenade tail pipe is fitted over the spigot. When energized, the solenoid propels its plunger which pushes the firing pin into a primer in the propellant cartridge which in turn fires the cartridge and propels the grenade off the spigot and along a ballistic trajectory.

United States Patent Nahas Feb. 22, 1972 [54] ZERO BREECHGRENADE-LAUNCHING 2,925,012 2/l960 Malloy et a1. ....89/l.8l9 X SYSTEM3,250,034 5/1966 Simmons ..42/84 Joseph A. Nahas, Laurel, Md.

[72] Inventor: Primary Examiner-Samuel W. Engle [73] Assignee: TheUnited stats of America as Attorney-R. S. Sciascia, J. A. Cooke and R.J. Erickson ted h th Sec 1 ith N represzn 9y e re ary o e avy ABSTRACT22 Fl (1: N l 196 l 1 (W A grenade-launching pod including a housingsupporting a [21] PP 18 matrix of spigots aimed to cover a sector ofapproximately 20. Each spigot includes a hollow pipe containing aslidable firing pin biased rearwardly by a coil spring A matrix ofsolenoids is [52] Cl g gggg a secured to the inside of the housing, eachone aligned with a [51] Int Cl 7 w 7' i 1/06 respective spigot andhaving its plunger in contact with the fir- [58] Fieid 89/1 ing pin ofthe associated spigot. A propellant cartridge is 3 l 34 i l removablyheld in a slot in the end of each spigot and a grenade tail pipe isfitted over the spigot. When energized. the solenoid propels its plungerwhich pushes the firing pin into a [56] Reierences Cited primer in thepropellant cartridge which in turn tires the car- UNITED STATES PATENTStridge and propels the grenade off the spigot and along a ballistictrajectory. 1,337,444 4/1920 Douglas ..102/43 R X 1,825,203 9/1931Reibel ..89/ i G 4Claims, 5 Drawing Figures a. '4 62 32 n t 94 Y e a 5 fM l 92 I 96 u 2 0 if 22 /4 I la p f h E PAIENTEDFEB22 I972 3,543,545

SHEET 1 OF 2 INVENTOR Joseph A. Nahas A'IT NEY PAIENTEDFEBZZ I972 SHEET2 0F 2 m mh ZERO BREECH GRENADE-LAUNCHING SYSTEM BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION This invention relates generally to ordnance launchers andmore specifically to a multiple grenade-launching pod.

The art of grenade launching has been a steadily evolving one, from thefirst crude mechanical throwers to the modern sophisticated silentlaunchers. The prior art launchers, however, have not embodied a designthat meets the very exacting requirements dictated by the tacticalnature of the weapon.

In particular, the launcher must be durable and inexpensive. The severeconditions and treatment such a device receives in the battlefieldrequires a ruggedness of design which is not met merely by making thecomponents of heavy gage metal. The design must eliminate fine-workingparts and complicated mechanical mechanisms of close tolerance which areexpensive, short lived, easily fouled, and quickly destroyed in atypical battlefield situation. The ideal design will have few movingparts of inherently rugged construction and inexpensive to manufacture.

Another design objective is reliability and effectiveness. The launchermust work every time it is fired and it must consistantly launch asimilar pattern over a predictable distance. in a typical emergencybattle condition, if the launcher jams or fails to operate, there is notime to make repairs and the launcher must be discarded for anotherpossibly less effective weapon. Reliability and effectiveness may appearto be attained in some of the complicated and sophisticated designsexisting at present, and leisurely, carefully conducted tests of theirdesigns in clean and dry environments appear to support such a finding.However, actual battlefield use of these devices is neither leisurelynor carefully conducted, and is rarely clean and dry. Hence, test rangereliability and effectiveness may have little relation to battlefieldreliability and effectiveness. Moreover, the weapon must be capable ofrepeated use over a long period. The intense stresses and vibrationsmust not cause failure of any part nor cause a separation of thepropellant cartridge away from the firing pin, a recurrant problem inprior art launchers.

A weapon which fails in tactical use is less desirable than no weapon atall, because in reliance on the launcher the defenders may haveneglected to prepare an adequate backup defense, and failure of theweapon will leave them seriously underarmed.

The most often ignored tactical requirement is that of portability, andspeed and simplicity of operation. The launcher must be easily portableand capable of rapid erection in case of sudden need. It must also becapable of rapid and simple reloading in all tactical situations such asdarkness and narrowly confined quarters. In defensive use, a launcherwill typically be situated in a small bunker or behind sandbags, andafter the first charge of grenades has been fired, the operator must beable to reload quickly without exposing himself to enemy fire. Theoperator will naturally wish to stay as low as possible behind hisprotective cover and will want to reload using only one arm and hand soas to avoid raising his head and body into the line of fire. Thelaunching pod therefore should be compactly designed with low silhouetteand with such simplicity that it can be reloaded rapidly and by touch.

Up until now, a satisfactory design has not been developed. The priorart launching pods are prohibitively expensive, so complicated and bulkythat their reliability in battlefield situations renders them completelyunacceptable, and designed so that the operator must expose himself tograve danger from enemy fire to reload the launcher.

Therefore, the need has long existed for a grenadelaunching pod which isdurable and inexpensive, reliable and effective, and is compact,uncomplicated and easily and quickly operated.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly one object of this invention is toprovide a grenade launcher pod which is durable and inexpensive.

Another object of the invention is to provide a grenade launcher podthat is highly reliable and effective to propel a grenade a greatdistance.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a grenadelauncher pod that is compact and uncomplicated, thereby maximizing thesafety for the operator in a tactical situation and enhancing the speedof operation of the pod.

A further object of the instant invention into provide a multiplegrenade-launching pod.

Briefly, in accordance with one embodiment of this invention, these andother objects are obtained by a grenade launching pod having a matrix ofgrenade-launching spigots each having an aligned solenoid. A floatingfiring pin is contained in each spigot which is propelled outwardly uponactuation of the solenoid. A propellant cartridge is removablypositionable on the end of each spigot and the grenade may be slidablypositioned on each spigot. When the solenoid is actuated the pin isdriven into a primer in each cartridge to propel the respective grenadeoff the spigot and outward on its ballistic trajectory to the target.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING A more complete appreciation of the inventionand its many attendant advantages will develop as the same becomesbetter understood by reference to the following detailed descriptionwhen considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation partly in section of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view along lines 2-2 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of a spigot;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the outer end of a spigot; and

FIG. 5 is a side elevation, in section, of a propellant cartridge.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference charactersdesignate identical or corresponding parts throughout the several views,and more particularly to H05. 1 and 2 thereof, the grenade-launching pod10 is shown mounted on a base 12. The pod includes a simple boxlikestructure having heavy steel sides 14, an arcuate top 16, a thin metalbottom 18 and thin front and rear walls 20. The arcuate top 16 includesa set of five heavy rectangular top plates 22 supported by threesegment-shaped stringers 24 which extend between and are mounted inheavy sides 14.

A set of four parallel guide tubes or spigots 26 is set into each of topplates 22 and spaced equally apart therealong. The spigot includes ahollow pipe 28 having formed on the outside periphery thereof near thebottom of the pipe an annular shoulder 30. Each top plate 22 has formedtherethrough a set of four equally spaced apertures or bores 32 of evendiameter with pipe 28, and an annular groove 34 is formed in the top ofeach bore 32 of even diameter with annular shoulder 30. Each spigot cantherefore be inserted into bore 32 until annular shoulder 30 engageannular groove 34. To secure spigots 26 in place, a ring 36 is placedover each spigot 26 and secured by machine screws 38 to top plate 22.

Spigot 26, which is best seen in FIG. 3, includes an axial bore 40having a constricted orifice 42 and an enlarged diameter rearwardportion 44. A rod 46, slidably disposed within axial bore 40, includes aforward guide disc 50 of approximately even diameter with bore 40, and arearward guide disc 52 of approximately even diameter with enlargeddiameter portion 44 of bore 40. Extending forwardly from and attached toforward guide disc 50 is a firing pin 54 aligned with bore orifice 42. Acompression spring 56 extends between the for ward face of rearwardguide disc 52 and the shoulder 58 formed at the junction of enlargeddiameter portion 44 and the central portion of bore 40. Spring 56 biasesrod 46 rearwardly maintaining firing pin 54 fully within bore 40.

A plurality of solenoids 60 are attached to the underside of top plates22 in axial alignment with spigots 26. Solenoids 60 are held in positionby the same machine screws 38 which hold the respective spigots to topplate 22. Each solenoid has an associated plunger 62 which may be drivenoutward toward and into engagement with rod 46 when the solenoid isenergized. When that happens, compression spring 56 is compressed androd 46 is propelled outward. Firing pin 54 is pushed through orifice 42to the limit permitted by engagement of forward guide disc 50 with theshoulder formed by the junction of bore 40 and orifice 42.

The outside end of each spigot has formed therein a T- shaped slot 63including outside narrow portion 64 and inside wide portion 66. As bestseen in FIGS. 3 and 4, inside wide portion 66 of the end slot does notextend completely across the diameter of spigot 26, but tapers down at67 to the diameter of narrow portion 64.

A propellant cartridge 68, best seen in FIG. 5, has a cylindricalcup-shaped body 70 having a central forwardly opening cavity 72 formedtherein covered by a thin metal cap 73. The bottom 74 of body 70 hasextending therefrom a tubular portion 76 of approximately even diameterwith wide portion 66 of the end slot. A cannelure 78 is formed intubular portion 76 adjacent bottom 74, of approximately even diameterwith narrow portion 64 of the end slot. Thus, it can be seen thatcartridge 68 can be slipped into the end slot in spigot 26 until tubularportion 76 engages the narrow or restricted portion 67 of wide portion66 of the slot. The cartridge 68 is therefore securely held againstaxial translation, however, it may be easily slid transversely out ofthe end slot.

An axial bore 80 through tubular portion 76 contains a priming mixture82 which communicates with central cavity 72, filled with a propellant74 such as black powder. Thus, it is seen that when rod 46 is propelledoutward by solenoid plunger 62, firing pin 54 is pushed through orifice42 and stabs into primer 82 thereby initiating primer mixture 82. Blackpowder propellant 84 is thereby detonated which propels the grenade offspigot pipe and onto its ballistic trajectory.

Pod is supported or a stand having two parallel spaced rails 86connected by a crossmember 88. A heavy vertical standard 90 extendsupwardly from the central portion of each rail 86 on either side of pod10. A pivot pin 92 is mounted in a hole 94 in each standard 90 andextends through another hole 96 formed in each side 14 to pivotallysupport pod 10 between standards 90. Another hole 98 is formed in eachstandard 90 below and to the rear of hold 94, and a series of holes 100spaced evenly along an are about pivot pin 92 of a radius equal to thedistance between pivot pin 92 and hole 98 are formed in sides 14. A bolt102 extends through hole 98 in each standard, and selectively one of theholes 100 to thereby provide means for adjusting the elevation of thepod, or the angle of the spigots 26 from horizontal.

In use, the elevation of the pod is adjusted by pivoting the pod aboutpivot pin 92 and inserting bolts 102 through aligned holes 92 and 100.The azimuth is adjusted by grasping handles 104 secured to rails 86 andpulling the pod around to the right direction. A cartridge is theninserted into slot 63 in the end of each spigots 26 and the tail pipe ofa conventional rifle grenade is slid onto each spigot 26. The range thegrenade travels is determined by the depth of insertion of spigot 26into the grenade tail pipe. An intervalometer (not shown) connectedbetween a battery (not shown) and the solenoids 60 then delivers asequence of pulses of current to the solenoids to sequentially energizethen. The solenoid plungers 62 are thrust-forward, causing firing pins54 to stab into primers 82 in cartridges 68. The propellant 84 incartridges 67 is ignited and the rifle grenades are sequentiallypropelled ofi' spigots 26 on a ballistic trajectory to the target. Thesequential mode of firing is selected to minimize the load on thebattery and to minimize the launching pod recoil.

To reload, the spent cartridges are easily and quickly lifted out ofslots 63 and new cartridges and new grenades are reinserted on thespigots. The launching pod is now loaded and ready to be fired again.

Obviously, numerous modifications and variations of the presentinvention are possible in the light of the above teachings. It istherefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claimsthe invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically describedherein.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent ofthe United States is:

l. A grenade-launching pod, comprising:

a housing having formed therethrough a plurality of apertures,

a plurality of guide tubes secured to said housing in alignment withsaid apertures and extending outwardly therefrom each of said guidetubes having formed in the outer end thereof a T-shaped slot forreceiving and independently supporting externally thereon acomplementary shaped cartridge for propelling a grenade;

a firing pin slidably disposed within each of said guide tubes;

a solenoid secured to the inside of said housing in alignment with eachof said guide tubes;

each of said solenoids having an associated plunger extendable therebythrough said aperture to impel said firing pin outward when saidsolenoid is energized; and

means for connecting said solenoids to an energize source.

2. The grenade-launching pod defined in claim 1, wherein:

said guide tube has formed therein an axial bore;

a rod having a guide disk fixed to each end being slidably disposed insaid bore; and

said firing pin being secured to the outward one of said guide disks.

3. The grenade-launching pod of claim 2, further comprisa compressionspring disposed within said bore outwardly of the rearward one of saidguide disk and bearing thereagainst;

said solenoid plunger abutting against said rearward guide disk andeffective,

when said solenoid is energized, to push said rod outwardly, overcomingthe compressive force of said compression spring.

4. The grenade-launching pod defined in claim 1, wherein:

said housing comprises a pair of heavy supporting side walls, aplurality of segment-shaped stringers extending between and supported bysaid sidewalls and having their arcuate sides facing outwardly, and aplurality of top plates secured perpendicular to said stringers acrossthe outer arcuate sides thereof; and

said apertures being formed in a symmetrical matrix in said top plates.

1. A grenade-launching pod, comprising: a housing having formedtherethrough a plurality of apertures, a plurality of guide tubessecured to said housing in alignment with said apertures and extendingoutwardly therefrom each of said guide tubes having formed in the outerend thereof a Tshaped slot for receiving and independently supportingexternally thereon a complementary shaped cartridge for propelling agrenade; a firing pin slidably disposed within each of said guide tubes;a solenoid secured to the inside of said housing in alignment with eachof said guide tubes; each of said solenoids having an associated plungerextendable thereby through said aperture to impel said firing pinoutward when said solenoid is energized; and means for connecting saidsolenoids to an energize source.
 2. The grenade-launching pod defined inclaim 1, wherein: said guide tube has formed therein an axial bore; arod having a guide disk fixed to each end being slidably disposed insaid bore; and said firing pin being secured to the outward one of saidguide disks.
 3. The grenade-launching pod of claim 2, furthercomprising: a compression spring disposed within said bore outwardly ofthe rearward one of said guide disk and bearing thereagainst; saidsolenoid plunger abutting against said rearward guide disk andeffective, when said solenoid is energized, to push said rod outwardly,overcoming the compressive force of said compression spring.
 4. Thegrenade-launching pod defined in claim 1, wherein: said housingcomprises a pair of heavy supporting side walls, a plurality ofsegment-shaped stringers extending between and supported by saidsidewalls and having their arcuate sides facing outwardly, and aplurality of top plates secured perpendicular to said stringers acrossthe outer arcuate sides thereof; and said apertures being formed in asymmetrical matrix in said top plates.